Tag Archives: SF

Merry Christmas to one and all! I hope wherever you are you are warm and cozy. I’m excited to announce that my new Amazon writers page is up and running and Animatae’s Shadow is available free through Amazon Prime.

It is undoubtedly an exciting time for me and Trantius Rune Press. I’m especially looking forward to next month and February. The second full length novel in the Rogues of the Empyrean series should be available through Kindle at that time.

The peaceful Port Animatae is terrorized by monsters in the night. Mattie discovers her friend murdered and wants to get to the bottom of it. When her life is on the line, will her fiancé William be able to save her and their town from the dark specter hanging over them?

This past week photos were released of the abandoned subway in New York. I

New York Subway

found the pictures on Huffington Post rather inspiring as a writer, so I wanted to share.

There was something reminiscent of Steampunk. The whole affair got my grey matter’s cogs turning. Wouldn’t it be neat to see what other subterranean areas there are lurking beneath our heels?

If you are a fan of Steampunk fiction you are already aware that there is usually a tone of slight creepy abandonment that lies somewhere within most novels. Thus abandoned subterranean exploration is making its début on The Top Hat Exchange.

New York Subway Tunnel

Apparently the world is riddled with underground abandonment, living tunnels, roads and workstations that look like they have jumped right out of the pages of epic Science Fiction.

West Norwood Cemetery has tunnels full of coffins stuffed into crevices, man-made shelves, and simply laying out on the ground. Exploring the deteriorating pine coffins and sturdy mahogany resting places of the dead might appeal to many out there, I think I will pass.

The spectre of ghosts and goblins still scare the wits out of this writer.

That is correct, the Magic Kingdom has a whole system of underground tunnels that their employees use. Not only do Disney employees walk through the passages connecting kitchens, dining areas, and offices but the tunnels are large enough for motorized vehicles.

So as your little girl poses next to Cinderella for a Kodak moment, somewhere beneath your Birkenstocks lurks a truck creeping through the underground tunnels delivering chicken the Disney cooks will prepare for your lunch or dinner.

Pembrokeshire, Wales

Real life Hobbit House anyone? Yes please. This fantastical home has fresh

Welsh Hobbit Home

water running into it (by gravity only) from a nearby spring and all the materials are local. The exception is the plumbing. Recycled materials were saved from the bin for that…seriously. I love this house and the minds that put it together from renewable and recyclable materials.

Japanese researcher Shun Akiba found an old map of the Tokyo tunnel system.

Japanese Spaces

The old map did not match the current maps. As he researched further more and more inconsistencies were found. It all points to hidden spaces underground. Sounds like the beginning of a novel doesn’t it? Well the Japanese government denies any hidden underground spaces. But check out these pictures of acknowledged Japanese subterranean spaces.

Subterranean Japan

There are many, many more subterranean wonders around the world. I could easily ramble on but I will refrain.

I mention these because I found these particular wonders awe inspiring as an on-looker and as a writer.

Anything that sparks my imagination is (of course) interesting to me and deserves more research.

As much as I find all these wonders awe inspiring there is something almost suffocating about them. C’mon it’s all underground! I could be buried alive!

If you would like to explore under the earth further please follow the links below for more eerie underground wonder.

SF, Fantasy, Renaissance, Anime, Comic and of course Steampunk came together in a meeting of fabulous inner nerd and freak this past weekend.

A Mallory Lorene Photo

Many Steampunks came down from the aether this weekend. It was a wonderful parade of parasols, top hats, ray guns and bustles.

Airship Nocturne, and The Steampunk Illumination Society were out in force.

3 Airship Nocturne Crew Members

The crew was in full Steampunk regalia. Talking canes (true story), fluttery feathers, jet packs and bandoliers replete with tea cups were to be found at the Nocturne booth.

Another group that spearheads many local events, the Circus Freaks, were also there. They offered several workshops on learning Poi, and Flagging. They are the rock stars of the Freak, showing moves that you only thought could be CGI generated.

A Mallory Lorene Photo: Poi 101

(The Circus Freaks were also at this years earlier event Clockwork Wonderland.)

Monkey of the Circus Freaks & Trantius of the Nocturne

Vendors set up selling wares of all kinds. Buttons, pins, t-shirts, bustles, corsets, top hats, canes, and Renaissance Faire tickets to name some. Intricate Steampunk gadgets, goggles and other random gizmo’s were also ready for purchase.

The Steampunk Ball was the highlight for many. For those many, they all needed a good dose of caffeine, because this ball did not end at the stroke of mid-night. Oh no! It started at mid-night.

One of the opening acts for the ball included Bones Jangle. Bones, never fails

'Bones' Jangle

to satisfy his listeners. For all those who love a good toe tapping, dancing shanty tune, this is the performer for you. His raspy voice crows above the crowds taking them from the dance floor and to the aether of their favorite airship.

Before All-Con was barely underway there were rumors that the lauded main act of the Steampunk Ball, The Marquis of Vaudeville would not be in attendance.

Due to an unbecoming lack of communication on the part of All-Con planners, many fans and friends of All-Con and The Marquis were upset that the ball would perhaps not go on.

The Marquis did in fact perform. This was only because they were able to overcome the terrible lack of communication on the part of the convention. To their credit The Marquis went above and beyond what is generally thought of as the responsibility for performers. The Marquis of Vaudeville went on to play and satisfy their fans who were still awake to hear them at 2am.

Marquis of Vaudeville

The Marquis is superbly adept at creating otherworldly music. It takes the listener into another realm, like Lewis Carrol took his readers to Wonderland, the Marquis take their fans beyond the here and now.

After the ball ended, at nearly 3 am, the attendees moved to various after parties that were being thrown around the hotel. That being said, nerds and freaks know how to throw great parties.

If you would like more information about any of the events or groups please see the following links.